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The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed first-round draft pick Morgan Rielly to a three-year entry-level contract. Rielly, 18, was selected fifth overall. The defenceman missed most of the past season because of a knee injury.

He had three goals and 15 assists in 18 games with Moose Jaw of the WHL

Jagr went stir crazy

A lack of patience drove free agent Jaromir Jagr out of Philadelphia this summer.

“I really liked it in Philadelphia, I wanted to stay there,” Jagr told SovSport, as translated by Yahoo Sports.

“But the Flyers started hunting for the big players on the market — Zach Parise, Ryan Suter. They needed some money under the cap and they said ‘Wait a little, Jaromir ...’ And I didn’t want to wait. This is when Dallas came through.”

The 40-year-old forward signed a one-year, $4.5-million deal July 3 with the Stars.

KESLER OUT TILL DECEMBER

Ryan Kesler’s agent says the Canucks centre is not ahead of schedule as he recovers from off-season surgery, contradicting a report from Vancouver general manager Mike Gillis.

“He’s not ahead of schedule and there’s no rushing him back,” Kurt Overhardt told Vancouver newspaper The Province.

“He’s on course to return in December and he’s not returning until he’s 100%. Don’t expect him until December.”

Gillis last week told a Vancouver radio station that Kesler was “slightly ahead” of schedule as he recovers from shoulder surgery May 8.

NASH THANKS FANS

Winger Rick Nash, who was traded to the New York Rangers by the Blue Jackets on July 23, has posted an ad in The Columbus Dispatch thanking the fans for their “unwavering support over the past nine seasons.”

“I am so fortunate to have had the chance to call Columbus home and to say proudly I am from the Buckeye state,” Nash wrote.

BOLTS PROSPECT EYES EUROPE

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltending prospect Jaroslav Janus appears headed for Europe next season after playing 34 AHL games last season.

The Bolts figure that with two other goalies — Dustin Tokarski, 22, and Riku Helenius, 24, vying for playing time — Janus, 22, would get more work by latching on to a European team.

Both side agreed that the ideal solution “is for him to play as many games as possible next year. We told the agent we would help any way we could to help achieve that. I think they’re looking in Europe,” assistant general manager Julien BriseBois told the Tampa Bay Times.

Janus had 23-8-2 record with a 2.36 goals-against average and .914 save percentage last season with AHL Norfolk.

BRIEFLY

The San Jose Sharks are among the favourites to land free-agent winger Shane Doan, a source told CSNCalifornia.com. Other teams interested in the 35-year-old reportedly include the Buffalo Sabres, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks ... The Los Angeles Kings have signed first-rounder Tanner Pearson, the 30th overall pick, to a three-year entry-level deal. Pearson, who turns 20 next week, had 37 goals and 54 assists with Barrie of the OHL last season.